Hélène Biandudi

This week students from the Ajong Primary School in Mayan-Abun, South Sudan, Skyped with young people their age half-way around the world at School 36 in the Rochester City School District. The Ajong School, like the majority of schools in towns and villages in South Sudan, doesn’t have any electricity. But that didn’t stop our Skype session. We drove the kids to the Action Against Hunger compound in the village to set up my laptop for a 9:15 a.m. (est) date with the students of Michelle Sutton’s 6th grade class at School 36.

Angelina Mading is 17-years old and she has entered the eighth grade at the Ajong Primary School in South Sudan. Angelina is the first girl in her family to receive a formal education, thanks to the 2005 peace agreement between South and North Sudan. It paved the way for educational opportunities for females who had previously been denied access to an education.  Angelina embraces the lessons she learns at school each day and tries to pass them on to her younger siblings when she returns home.

Today is a special day for many of the people of South Sudan. It’s the anniversary of the signing of the 2005 peace agreement between the north and the south. The agreement paved the way for South Sudan’s independence in July 2011 and opened the doors to an education for the young people of the nation. 

Hélène Biandudi, on assignment in South Sudan, talked with Beth Adams this morning about how South Sudan is celebrating the 2005 peace agreement that allowed young women to attend school. 

Hélène Biandudi is currently on assignment in South Sudan, visiting a school in the war-torn village of Mayan Abun that was built by money raised by Rochester-area residents. Her trip is the first opportunity for Rochesterians to meet the children and families whose lives have been touched by their generosity.

Hélène spoke with LeShea Agnew during Morning Edition on Monday to discuss her trip and what she's viewed during her first days there.

You can hear my first live Q&A on Morning Edition at 6:35am this Monday, January 7 on AM 1370 and follow my assignment here on wxxi.org

This is part of WXXI’s reporting and civic engagement initiative around Schools for South Sudan, which explores issues related to education, diversity and racism locally and around the world. Schools for South Sudan is supported in part by The Community Foundation. Follow Hélène's reporting trip on Twitter: @HeleneWXXI and #SouthSudanEd

Beginning January 3rd, I’m leaving snow-capped Rochester, New York for 14 days, traveling more than 6,000 miles to South Sudan. 

Balancing the budget by funding priorities. That’s what City School Superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas said he intends to do with next year’s budget.

Thursday night Vargas presented his plan to the School Board to close a projected $50.2 million deficit for the next school year.

He made no mention of teacher lay-offs in his plan and Vargas said he'll do everything he can to minimize such cuts.